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Athens council approves $2.88 million in capital allocations, $200,000 small-business incentive; approves Crown Castle assignment

Athens City Council · February 24, 2026

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Summary

The City Council approved a set of consent calendar items including allocation of $2,882,000 in FY surplus to department capital projects, a $1,006.99 travel reimbursement for Council President Chris Seibert (Seibert abstained), consent to assign Crown Castle agreements to a buyer, and a $200,000 incentive program for small businesses in Districts 3 and 5.

Council took a series of formal votes on consent and resolutions during its meeting.

Allocation of FY surplus (Item F): Councilman Creasy presented a resolution to allocate a total of $2,882,000 from fiscal-year surpluses to departmental capital projects. The resolution listed departmental allocations: Police $493,000; Fire $180,000; Street $575,000; Sanitation $1,450,000; Information Technology $89,000; General & Administrative $7,000; Planning $20,000; Building $68,000. The council approved the resolution by roll call, 5–0.

Travel reimbursement (Item G): The council approved reimbursement of $1,006.99 for Council President Chris Seibert to attend Leadership Alabama. Seibert abstained from the vote; the motion passed 4 ayes, 1 abstention.

Crown Castle assignment (Item H): The council approved consent to assign Crown Castle's franchise agreement and pole-attachment agreement to an acquiring entity described in the resolution (identified in the record as Fiber Finco LLC and Small Sale Holder Co Incorporation). City staff confirmed the assignee would assume obligations under the city's small-cell/pole-attachment ordinance. The vote was 5–0.

Economic development incentive program (Item I): Councilman Creasy presented a resolution establishing an incentive program for small retail and service businesses in City Council Districts 3 and 5. The council appropriated $200,000 for the program, splitting $100,000 per district, and charged the mayor with administering the application and bringing grant recommendations back to council for approval. The council voted to suspend rules and approved the program 5–0.

The measures approved at the meeting will return to staff-level implementation steps (procurement, grant application intake, or follow-up council approvals) as described in each resolution.